Huddersfield town secure their second win of the season!
- Huddersfield Town 1-0 Cardiff City
- Terriers' second win of the season
- Jordan Rhodes gets himself on the scoresheet
Huddersfield Town secured a second win of the season on Saturday afternoon, beating Cardiff City 1-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium.
An early goal for the Terriers from Jordan Rhodes secured the second win of the season under the leadership of Narcís Pèlach.
Town will play more fluid football through the course of the season, but today wasn't the day for that. Instead, the Terriers showed the spirit that the home faithful can really relate to and took the game to the visitors in a high pressing, front foot first half.
Pèlach cahnged the shape of the team to a 4-2-3-1 and introduced 19-year-old Etienne Camara into the side for his first Championship start. The Frenchman repaid that faith, working excellently with the all-action David Kasumu in midfield.
Lees and Helik were in great form behind him as Town kept a welcome first clean sheet of the season, with Lee Nicholls saving another penalty in the first half.
The first piece of action in the game was the goal from Jordan Rhodes in the eighth minute that put Town ahead, assisted by a pass from Duane Holmes. After Duane, on his 100th appearance for the Club, drove the ball down the pitch, Rhodes was able to strike the ball from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner of the net.
This was closely followed by a shot on target from Holmes after a through ball sent him down the right side, he then took the ball into the box and took his shot, but this was saved by the Cardiff City shot stopper.
Callum Robinson then fancied his chances from outside the box as Cardiff searched for an early equaliser, however, his shot went high over the crossbar.
A penalty was then awarded in favour of Cardiff City as Tino Anjorin was adjudged to have put a high foot on Andy Rinomhota as he tried to clear the ball that came in from a corner kick. Robinson stepped up to take the penalty, but Lee Nicholls confidently went the right way, and the ball was delivered safely to the ‘keeper's gloves.
The Bluebirds didn’t stop there as their next chance came from defender Perry Ng, with another shot from outside the box, but it goes wide to left and that side was covered by Nicholls.
Although Town continued to press well and not let have the visitors have too much space, Cardiff City were awarded a free kick on the line of the penalty box in the last action before half time, which went straight through the wall and comfortable into Nicholls’ hands.
Town made their first substitution at half-time, introducing Danny Ward for Tino Anjorin.
The Terriers start the second half the same way they started the first half, a free kick at the side of the box taken by Yuta Nakayama found Rhodes’ head on the left post but the shot on target didn’t make it past the Bluebird’s ‘keeper.
A brilliant through ball is sent to Jack Rudoni and he went clean through on goal on the left side, but he hesitated to shoot, and was cleanly tackled in the area.
The 61st minute saw another brilliant close reaction save from Nicholls’ to deny Cardiff City their equaliser.
On his first Sky Bet Championship start, Etienne Camara put in a brilliant challenge on the edge of his own box and his efforts sent substitute Pat Jones sprinting down the field, but Cardiff work well to defend and the goal couldn’t be found.
The Terriers continued to hold on to their one goal lead as Cardiff City pushed even harder to find their equaliser.
Rhodes fancied his chance as he struck the ball from just inside Town’s attacking half, which looked to be hitting the target, but Ryab Allsop gets back to his goal in time to concede a corner.
Chance for Cardiff City in the 87th minute is well defended by Ollie Turton as he headed the ball clear before the Bluebirds striker can get onto it, this was shortly followed by two brilliant defensive headers from Michał Helik from both of the Cardiff corners.
Last action of the came from Town as Pat Jones sent a lovely cross onto the feet of substitute Sorba Thomas, who sent the ball just wide from inside the box.
A brilliant goal in the first half from Rhodes secured the second Sky Bet Championship win for Town this afternoon.
Town’s Line-Up (4-2-3-1)
Lee Nicholls; Ollie Turton, Michał Helik, Tom Lees, Yuta Nakayama; Etienne Camara, David Kasumu; Duane Holmes (Sorba Thomas, 79’), Tino Anjorin (Danny Ward, 45’), Jack Rudoni (Pat Jones, 58’); Jordan Rhodes (Luke Mbete, 90’)
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Connor Mahoney, Kaine Kesler-Hayden
Town Scorer
Jordan Rhodes (8’)
